Patent GB-253239-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in changing sign and display apparatus
IPC: G09F9/37
Filed: 1925-03-23
Abstract: 253,239. Mole, L. E. de. March 23, 1925. Monogrammic signs.-In a keyboard or automatically controlled advertising or like apparatus, each panel for exhibiting one of the letters, numerals, signs, &c. comprises a number of elements each consisting of a number of foldable shutters superposed on each other and provided on their faces with various markings, so that by folding back a certain number of shutters in each element a variety of displays can be produced by the conjunction of the markings. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, each group of shutters 84 is pivotally supported on a shaft 36 and in their normal position, as shown in the right-hand of the Figure, hang vertically downwards, but a selected number of them can be turned to an upright position as shown at the left hand of the Figure by the operation of a picker 35 having a finger 83 engaging behind notches 86 cut in the shutters, the picker being mounted on the shaft 36 which is given a reciprocating movement simultaneously with all the corresponding shafts 36 of a panel by gearing 69, 75, vertical bar 68, eccentric 64 and a rotatable operating shaft 63. Each group of shutters has associated therewith a selector 39 having a projection 82 the position of which determines the number of shutters to be taken up bv the corresponding picker when the shaft 63 is actuated. The selector. finger is adjusted to position by pawl and ratchet mechanism 90 actuated by impulses received by an electromagnet 57 from the keyboard or automatic control apparatus, out each armature is provided with an extensions 93 co-operating with a locking- element 94 so that the armature can only be moved when the extension 93 is opposite a recess 100<1> cut in the element 94. All the locking- elements 94 of a panel are associated with a - vertically-movable bar 74, the upward movement of which is effected by a cam 65 on the shaft 63, while the downward movement takes place in two stages or steps controlled by the keyboard or automatic control apparatus, e.g. a perforated tape. When all the bars 74 of a horizontal row of panels are raised to the upper position they are all, except the bar of the first panel, held in their uppermost or first locked position by spring detents 34, and the. extensions 93 of the selectors, except that of the first panel, are in a locked position. The selectors 82 of the first panel can thus be set, while the selectors of all the other panels are looked. Simultaneous with the impulses which are next received by the electromagnets 57 of the second panel. electromagnets 56 are energized. In the case of the first panel, the bar 74 drops to its lowermost position and locks the selectors in their adjusted position, this being effected by the attraction of the armature 105 withdrawing a supporting ledge 103<1> from a transverse pin carried at the upper end of the bar 74, and the locking-element 94 positively engaging the selector extension 93. During the dropping of the bar 74 of the first panel, a pin 106 engages a pawl 107, rotates a shaft 108 and releases the detent 34 of the second panel, thus allowing the bar 74 of the second panel to drop to its intermediate position, and supported on its ledge 103<1>, in which the selector of the second panel is unlocked, but all the other panels have their selectors still locked. Thus when the impulses are received by the magnets 57, only the selectors of the second panel are free to be operated, and thus the second panel is set ready. Proceeding in this way all the panels of a horizontal row can be successively set, the movement of a locking-bar 74 of one panel to its lowermost or second locking position unlocking the succeeding panel and allowing the panels to be set successively, the selectors of all the other panels being in their second locked position, if already set, or in their first locked position, if still to be set. When all the selectors have been set, a display is effected by rotating the shaft 63, which causes the pickers 35 to descend and lift up the appropriate number of shutters, the locking-bars 74 being actuated by the cams 65 and placing them in their first locking position, except the bars 74 of the first panel, which is moved to an unlocking position. At the same time pins 98 on the locking-elements 94 engage projections 99 on the selectors and move them to their zero position, thus cancelling the sign being exhibited and preparing the selectors for the next display. Actuation and control. The energization of the electromagnets 56, 57 is effected by a perforated band of insulating material 50, Fig. 10, the number of lines of perforations 51 for sending impulses to the selector electromagnets 57 corresponding with the number of elements or groups of shutters in a panel, while long perforations 52 actuate the panel unlocking and locking electromagnets 57. The electromagnets 56 are arranged in series as shown and associate with a contact finger 55<x>, while corresponding electromagnets 57 of the various panels are also connected in series and to a number of contact fingers 55. A switch 60 allows either the tape or automatic control to be in operation or, on being switched over, to place a keyboard apparatus 58, Fig. 7, in control. Each key 120 corresponds to a particular letter, numeral, sign, &c. and is provided with a number of fingers 122, each of which is spaced at such an initial distance from a wing 123 carrying contact brushes 125 that when operated it causesthe requisite number of contacts to be made at the point 126 and so causes the same number of impulses to be transmitted to the electromagnets. 57.